How the government let gays die in the 80s

It was not uncommon for people to be ostracized by their families, lose their jobs, or face violence for coming out. We were mostly discussed like mythological figures like unicorns and fairies. We were in the trenches, fighting for the rights we had no clue we would get but prayed for daily.

At no time in History, English, or Latin classes were historical figures discussed in terms of the homosexuality. In Europe, Lesbian and Gay Pride 85 march in London saw thousands of participants in the streets and on television, all the while becoming an important turning point in for LGB laws in the UK.

The theme in all these Pride events through this decade tried to be a theme of acceptance and of visibility. The Social Climate of the 80s The s was a time of conservative resurgence in many parts of the world, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom.

As I sat through health classes in school, there was no mention of being queer, especially in any positive light. A test later revealed the truth of his infection. Eleven years earlier was Stonewall and its impact had not been forgotten. Homophobia was prevalent, and coming out as gay often meant facing severe.

The s era saw a major shift in society towards more modern global gay culture. This wasn't just the case for the United States. Initially, due to a long outdated belief in patient zero, the first documented AIDS case came in June 5th, when several young gay men died from a rare type of pneumonia.

Their activism played a crucial role in drawing attention to the disease and pressuring governments to respond. As a GenXer, we often look back on the 80s culture with this loving nostalgia, the rose colored glasses syndrome. We have this idea of how great it was because we remember rocking out to our favorite songs with our friends on the bus ride home, heading to the mall if you were lucky enough to live near oneweekend movies, and the enormity that was 80s cartoons.

I grew up in a rural southern mountain area and the one thing that didnt happen was men holding hands, hugging, exchanging a quick kiss, or, god forbid, even sitting next to one another in a movie theater without a fear of being thought of as GAY!!!

This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBT rights that took place in the year s timeline of major events in LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) rights history, including homosexuality, gay marriage, gay adoption, serving in the military, sexual orientation discrimination protection, changing legal gender, donating blood, age of consent, and more.

Talk shows made light of affections felt for others and it was much easier for us to hide in the shadows than be present and out. Sure AIDS was discussed but the focus was more on scaring us out of wanting sex than anything productive.

Public figures, in particular, faced significant pressure to hide their sexuality, fearing the loss of careers or reputations. The catholic church continued their attack on the gays and legislation in places like the UK and US surely didn’t help. When the s started, LGBTQ rights was not a phrase that was tossed around, hell you would be hard pressed to even hear homosexuality talked about in more than hush whispers filled with disgust and disdain.

For example, the UK’s government added Section 28 to their Local Government Act that made it. However, there were still storms ahead for the battle of equality seen amongst gay rights. It was a hetero-centric world and we were just renting space in it. But these were only a small amount of the pains and hurdles we had to face.

Television and movies did nothing to help change the stereotype of limp wristed, flouncy queens and diesel bull dykes waiting to steal housewives from their happy homes. My mother was best friends with a lesbian couple she met at the factory she worked at.

There were no protections for employment or housing. Those memories well up in our mind and often gloss over that it was also a decade of struggle and turmoil. By a new disease was reported world-wide and solidified an activism movement that would reshape the world and its view of people.

AT the time, he was classified as having died from complications from pneumonia but many of the symptoms puzzled his doctors.

Homosexuality in the 1980s

Pat and Diane were fixtures in our lives and spent a lot of time around us. It was torturous to say the least. The Reagan administration in the U.S. and Thatcher’s government in the U.K. promoted traditional family values, often sidelining LGBTQ+ rights.